I didn't bother with a full write up for the 24hr team race, mainly because we a minor list of disasters - namely one rider of our team of 6 crashed, a stick punctured his arm which needed stitches... and later a double round of surgery to clean out the wound. He still managed to finish his lap first though Another of our riders got called out to work, returned for a midnight lap and had a double puncture and a chain snap etc etc. I did a double night lap starting at 2am which was going well until the last 3km (of which 2 is downhill FFS) which I was paralysed with cramps for about 15mins.

Mon: Like a hangover but more painful. Still went to BJJ though. Tues: "Hard recovery" - light row, then about 2hrs of stretching, rolling, steam/cold showers etc. Wed: Weights, 1x5reps @80% of 1RM Thurs: Conditioning. 1.5hr massage.Fri: RestSat: Easy 1.5hrs avg 10watts, + 4x30sec efforts @654, 539, 501, 427. Felt like crap. Sun: 2hr 54mins @198 watts (~80% of FTP). I was crawling in the front door after this one (literally, cramps just at the end, almost fell off the bike and had to knock on the door). Now 80% of FTP is a massive effort so either 1) I am a hard nut, 2) power meter calibration is off, 3) FTP has raised and not yet reflected in testing (because I haven't done any) 4) a little bit of all of the above.

This week will also be pretty easy after Sunday's effort. I have a "tour" on the weekend, 4km TT, 50km RR on Sat and then a 100km RR on Sun. It will be my first foray into road racing in 4years.

It will hurt.

Can't wait!

Also, TP's point above. Those that read my posts know that I don't put weight loss as the emphasis. It should follow form "naturally". So I started at ~81.5 kgs, currently sitting at ~79.5 kgs. This is the lightest I've been since 2009. 2kilos in 3months. I'll take that.

_________________"Physiology is all just propaganda and lies... all waiting to be disproven by the next study.""I'm not a real doctor; But I am a real worm; I am an actual worm." - TMBG

Saturday and Sunday was a "tour" of three races, 4km TT (non-tt bike), 50km road race on the Saturday and a 100km on the Sunday. I had decided to do this about 5 days earlier so my prep for a proper race wasn't exactly there, but thought it would be an excellent training opportunity. And I got to do a TT finally, even if it was on the road bike! Entered myself in B grade, hoping I could hold on.

TT: 4km, with a longish downhill start and then a bit of undulation and then slight rise at the end, headwind. Adopted the long sleeve skin suit for this one and had planned to use the new Kask Vertigo Sprinter helmet with the closed vents that I had ordered... but the courier didn't arrive in time so standard helmet used instead. Would have been 5 secs right there

Time was 6:22 which placed me joint 4th with two others who got the same time. The best time was 5:52 which would would have put this guy in 4th in A grade... oh well. Power: 306 watts avg.

Road race: 50km out and back, headwind out, tailwind back. Undulating terrain with net gain out and net loss back. This is actually my first road race since 2009. I had forgotten how hard road racing can be. I put in a half hearted attack in the first 10kms which was shut down in very rapid order. There were plenty of attacks against the guy in the lead but each time he dragged them back. I was nearly shelled many times, was grovelling a lot for the first half. The return leg was pretty fast and two managed get off the front. The finish was a slight uphill drag which I managed to put in a kick for... and then cramped badly about 50m from the finish line , which was a pity because I was sailing past most of the guys. Cramps are my "you've over cooked it" indicator and I felt like it too. Came in about 16th out of 19 I think, lost 5 places and was 10th on GC.

Avg power 190 watts for 1hr 29mins with new PBs for 1min power - 491 watts, 5min power - 311 watts.

Well good to get a TT done finally and a road race too. I had forgotten some of the finer points of road racing but was remembered quickly though pain enforced learning. Hoping to shake the cold quick before my 10 day "training camp" comes up next week.

_________________"Physiology is all just propaganda and lies... all waiting to be disproven by the next study.""I'm not a real doctor; But I am a real worm; I am an actual worm." - TMBG

So here's the plan for my "training camp" (supposedly trip is to catch up with family, but they don't ride so I don't understand how I am supposed to catch up with them). This will change as trips to the zoo, playgrounds etc pop up but will try and keep to it as best as possible:-

Weeks 15/16Well as always things didn't go quite to plan, but still logged some good rides. One thing that was confirmed is that Adelaide and surrounds has some awesome riding and a "negative", has some awesome bakeries. I deliberately ate very well (often at said bakeries). Given the ramp up in overall volume this was not a time to skimp on calories. Net result :- about ~400grams lighter than when I started, current sitting at 79.3kilos.

To a certain point yes, improvements, despite my inconsistent training were showing through.

However, now due to a "perfect storm" of issues, I have shelved the riding at this stage (new baby on the way, new work role, closure of local velodrome, bloody cold weather etc etc), hopefully resuming in 2014... maybe. I still ride as a commute but structured riding is out the window for the time being.

Still training hard, just not in cycling

_________________"Physiology is all just propaganda and lies... all waiting to be disproven by the next study.""I'm not a real doctor; But I am a real worm; I am an actual worm." - TMBG

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